Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/156

 150 Southern Historical Society Papers.

vigorous attempts were made to force the line to the left, and as vigorously repulsed.

The morning of the 7th revealed the enemy gone, and the day was spent by the men in congratulations, and by the writer in making a sketch of the field from the bivouac of the night of the 4th up to the line occupied by the Federals during the same period. Late in the evening of this day the brigade began closing or extending — cannot call it marching — to the right, which continued during the entire night, the men having no time for rest or sleep.

The morning of the 8th dawned bright and hot. The line of march was taken up and pushed with vigor, notwithstanding the heat, dust, parching thirst, and smoke and fire of burning woods. The nature of the march was sufficient to convince those heroes that their presence was required to meet the foe on some other field, and gallantly did they toil through the day. As the sun was hiding behind the western wood, the brigade was thrown in line to the sup- port of Rodes, in front of Spotsylvania courthouse, but was not engaged. After dark it was marched and countermarched in search of a position, and at 10 P. M. was formed in line and ordered to throw up works in that salient which proved so disastrous on the 1 2th following.

By daylight of the 9th, in spite of the fatigue and loss of sleep on the night of the 7th, and the terrible march of the 8th, the entire brigade, with no tool, except the bayonet and tin-plate, was en- trenched behind a good defensible rifle pit. This day was spent in strengthening the lines, scouting to the front, and that sleep so much needed.

The morning of the loth found it closed to the righr, connecting with the left of Hill's corps, and Jones's brigade occupying the works in the salient. The position now occupied was in rear of the left- centre of the army, and so near as to require protection for the backs of the men when that part of the army was assaulted. These assaults were made fast and furious during the day, and the men of this line were, of necessity, compelled to erect works in front and rear at the same time. Late in the afternoon Doles's brigade was pressed back upon Steuart's rear, followed closely by the exultant enemy.

Orders to fall in, take arms, face by the rear rank and forward, were repeated in quick succession ; the brigade responded with alacrity, and soon was moving steadily — though moving in line of battle by the rear rank — through a small strip of woods into a field,